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Originally Posted by Solecismic
So I don't buy the Clemson or Florida State to the SEC concept as impossible.
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I don't buy it as an impossible concept but I can see why Florida, SC, UGA or UK don't want to elevate (or further elevate) a competitor. If your an AD or coach at one of those schools, you're already judged on winning a non-conference game, and now you'd also be judged on whether you finish ahead of them -- and you've just handed them a large bag of money to compete against you. It would be great for fans but bad for the teams.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Solecismic
Texas still drives everything, and, after seeing what happened to Houston, Rice, TCU and SMU when the Southwest Conference disbanded, there's a lot of in-state pressure to keep the Big XII intact.
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That's exactly why we're where we are at. No one outside Texas is happy in the Big 12. OU puts up with it because the Big 12 meets their needs with no risks. The PAC 12 is a time zone disaster, and the Big Ten pulls them from their recruiting base. Plus they are tied to OSU. I don't think OU goes anywhere unless the Big 12 melts down, but they aren't happy.
Baylor is probably the only team outside UT to be in the Big 12 because they have no better home. Tech hates being relegated to second class status, but they have no better option. Same for the entire Big 12 North. If the Big 12 imploded, all four could end up in bad places. The Big East wouldnt be awful, but it would be a bad marriage. Maybe MU and KU could upgrade in the right circumstances, but it's hard for KU to leave K-State and at this point Missouri is the bridesmaid.
The Big 12 can easily survive A&M defecting -- c'mom, it's A&M for crying out loud. But the next domino to fall could be the last. If UT or OU leave, katy bar the door. Even if a Mizzou or Kansas left, it would like have a similar effect because it would just encourage others to bolt.
The Deloss Dodds can pursue his dream of creating a super conference with Notre Dame and whoever else they can scare up.